Breaking Free

I've been thinking more about what I could add to my life and what needs replacing It could be a long list, but this is what immediately comes to mind:

• Replace some of the mindless time spent on the computer with painting - something I'm not great at, but love to do. For some reason I don't do it anymore.
• Add more water. I'm still struggling to make that a habit, but I'm working on that in a new way. (More on that later.)
• Add more fruits and vegetables.
• Add more sleep.
• Add vitamins.
• Replace negative self-talk with self respect and the truth.
• Add more Jesus. I don't know why I'm running from him right now when he's been so good for me in the past. I know I need him, but I ignore him.
• Add some exercise.
  
• Replace a few take out and fast food meals with meals cooked at home.
• Add a little routine, some structure to my day, or I should say, replace my current routine with one that works better for me.
• More sex. (Sorry, if that offends, but I love my husband, and this area of our marriage suffers because of my depression.)
  

These are some of the areas that I think need the most immediate attention.

I wonder if I'm even capable of breaking out of this cycle of chronic depression. I've had people, one a counselor I was seeing, tell me that maybe I'm one of those people who needs to be on medication for the rest of my life, but I can't or won't accept that as truth. I believe if I could just change some of my thought and behavior patterns that the brain chemistry would follow, and I could break out of this rut. It's my hope anyway.

So, how am I challenging myself this week? Well, a friend of mine, who faces similar challenges, and I are participating together in a two week challenge. Every day for the next two weeks we are going to, 1) eat breakfast, 2) drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, and 3) exercise in some way for 5 consecutive minutes.

These are very small requirements, I realize, but still very challenging for me, especially the "every day" part. Consistency is not something I've ever had a handle on.

At the end of two weeks, if we are both successful, we're going to reward ourselves somehow; a movie, a road trip, a visit to a museum, or something along those lines. It's day two of our challenge. I've had my breakfast, and I'm sitting here with a big glass of ice water. Now maybe I'll go slide up and down the hallway in my fluffy socks for 5 minutes!

The Water Habit

This week's challenge: Rehydrate!



I'm drinking my water, but it takes a lot of intention and thought. I just don't naturally reach for a glass of water throughout the day. My thirst signals are probably confused, and when I'm thirsty I think I'm hungry or tired.

I'd like to attach the act of drinking water to something in my life that I already do naturally. It's the easiest way I know to incorporate a new habit into my day. As a writer, I'm on the computer constantly, so that seems like a perfect activity to which I can attach water drinking. I'll have to think about it at first, but if I stick to it, soon it will not feel right to sit at the computer unless I have a glass of water sitting on my desk in front of me as well.

I think I'll buy a new water bottle for that very purpose. It will be my new writing companion.

More information on the link between depression and dehydration: Dehydration Also Causes Neurological and Autoimmune Disorders

Dehydration

This week's Challenge: Rehydrate!

And for encouragement, an article at Radiant Health: Depression and Dehydration.

My First Challenge

When depression hits me almost everything in my life spirals out of control until I wake up and decide something needs to be done. At that point, clawing my way out of the pit I've dug for myself seems an insurmountable task. Even if I did get meds to improve my mood, I'd still have to deal with the overwhelming mess still left.

There is the messy house, the relationships I've neglected, the weight I've gained along with a general frumpy appearance because I haven't bought new clothes or had a hair appointment in, God knows how long. The disarray occurred because I was depressed, or am I depressed because of the disarray? I suppose it doesn't really matter. What matters is I begin to rebuild piece by piece whether I feel like it or not.

I'm going to start with my body because without the energy to tackle life I'm sunk. So, my first challenge for myself is to hydrate my body. Currently I drink coffee in the morning, and not much else for the rest of the day. This week I'm going to work on getting enough water each day.